Hobby horse



.Time l2, 1932 T. P. ELFsTRoM 3,038,722

HOBBY HORSE Filed Feb. 20, 1959 ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,038,722 Patented `lune 12, 1962 3,038,722 HOBBY HORSE Thomas P. Elfstrom, Vesta Township, Redwood County, Minn. (Rte. 1, Vesta, Minn.) Filed Feb. 20, 1959, Ser. No. 794,733 2 Claims. (Cl. 272-531) b--xwvfrest An object of the present invention is the provision of a hobby horse apparatus adapted to permit cont-rolled rocking action, bouncing action, and a combination of the two which simulates bucking action exceptionally well. Another object of the present invention is :the provision of an apparatus of this type containing a mechanism which is actuated by the legs of, and is continuously in easy, direct control of, its rider to enable convenient, controlled handling by a child operator. Another object of the present invention is the provision of an apparatus of this type adapted to expeditiously resume a rest position from an action phase upon the cessation of actuation of the mechanism.

An additional object of the present invention is the provision of a hobby horse of the type mentioned in the previous paragraph adapte-d to provide the operator with a secure, mounted position free of `sliding o-r dislodging tendencies when actuating, or during the operation of, the mechanism. Another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus of this Itype containing a rocker support feature permitting considerable operator mo-tion without substantial movement laterally over the supporting `surface eJg. room floor. Another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus of this type which is safe and practical for indoor use in relatively conned spaces without particular movement laterally over the supporting surface even when the rider produces consider-able motion. Another object of the present invention is the provision of apparatus of Ithis type `adapted to provide vigorous, healthful exercise for the operator `and adaptable for use on a larger scale as an adult exercising device.

The operation of the apparatus of the present invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the drawings in which the apparatus is illustrated. When employed in the drawings, like numerals denote similar parts.

FIGURE l represents a side view;

FIGURE 2 represents a top view, partly in section and with `the rocker rails projected outwardly; and

FIGURE `3 represents a fragmentary perspective View of the apparatus of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment is shown of the hobby horse of the present invention which is preferably made of wood but metallic or plastic materials are also suitable. Body or riding platform contains rst side 3i) and laterally spaced second side 31. Body platform .10 can support a seating member 12 preferably including rear saddle member 14 and forward member 16, conveniently a replica of a horses head, through which a handle 18 extends.

AForward post 23 is pivotally connected, conveniently with bolt means, at its upper end to the front portion of l rst side 3Gv as shown at 27 and is pivotally connected at its lower end to the front portion of a first base surface contact or rocker member 2t) at 32. A second rocker member 21 is spaced laterally from, and on the same horizontal plane with, member 20. Similarly, connecting member, rear post, or leg member 25 is pivotally connected to the rear portion of rocker 20 and the rear portion of si-de 30; rear post 26 is pivotally connected to the rear portion of rocker 21 and -the rear portion of side 31; and forward post 28 is pivotally connected to the forward portion o-f sidef31 and the forward portion of rocker 21. The rocker members can have non-slip erg. rubber, treads on their undersurface. The posts move in yunison when body platform 10` reciprocates on a generally horizontal plane to provide a flexing or variable parallelogram motion with the lower side a horizontal plane passing through points 32 and 33.

Resilient means eg. coil return spring 35 is xedly connected lat one end to the middle portion of the bottom side of platform 1t) at 36 with hook eyes (not shown) an-d at the other end to the middle portion of cross bar 37 at 38. The cross bar extends between the rear posts.

Stirrup lever 40 is xedly attached to, projects forwardly and upwardly from, and is preferably mounted perpendieularly to, rear post 25. It projects under the platform to lodge against the underside of the riding platform at a rest position to limit rearward flexing of the mechanism i.e. rearward extent of the variable parallelogram action. Stirrup lever 41 is similarly mounted on rear post 26. Stirrup plates 48 and 49 are conveniently mounted on levers 40 and 41, respectively.

In the operation of the apparatus, the rider sits on seat member 12, normally facing head 16 with hands holding handle 18, and with feet resting on stirrup plates 43 and 49. With the application of pressure downwardly e.g. legs of the rider, on the stirrup plates, forward actuation means or stirrup levers 40 and 41 exert a moment on legs 25 `and 26, respectively, about their respective points of attachment, 50 and 51, to platform lill. This shifts the platform forward with respect to rockers 2d and 21, and stretches and places spring 35, in tension. With a release of pressure on the plates, the plates are returned to their starting posi-tion by action of tensioned spring 35 which moves or urges platform 10 toward its starting position. Thus the riding platform can be reciprocated in a general horizontal plane as a result of the combined actions of the downward pressure on the stirrup levers and the resilient member to provide flexing or variable parallelogram action defined by pivoting forward and rear posts, the riding platform and a straight line passing through the connection points on a rocker member. Generally, the range of motion of the stirrup levers is limited `by the rest position, at which the stirrups rest on the underside of the body platform, and by the tension of the coil spring which exerts` an increasing p'ull as it is extended. Spring tension, by varying the position of attachment on the underside of the platform or on the cross bar, can be varied to produce desired changes in the action or gait of the horse.

The motions provided for the rider by the hobby horse apparatus o-f the present invention include rocking motion, as in a conventional rocking horse; a bouncing motion, obtained by alternately applying yand 4releasing pressure on the stirrup plates; or a combination of the two producing a bucking motion.

Although the present invention is described in connection with a hobby horse, it will be obvious to those versed in the art that devices embodying rthe present invention can have the appearance of other animals.

It is claimed:

l. A hobby horse comprising two spaced rocker members each containing a forward and a rear portion; a riding platform containing forward and rear portions; motion imparting means connecting the riding platform and the rocker members in a riding lrelationship and adapted to horizontally reciprocate the riding platform in relation to said rocker members; said motion imparting means including two spaced forward posts, one pivotally secured to each of the forward portions of the rocker members and the forward portion of the riding platform; two spaced rear posts, one pivotally secured to each of the rear portions of the rocker members and the rear portion of the riding platform; forward actuation lever means Xedly mounted to and extending forwardly and upwardly `from the rear posts and ladapted to move the platform forward in relation to the rocker members by exerting a moment about the point of securement of the rear posts to the riding platform; and resilient means attached to the riding platform and the rear posts, adapted to be placed in tension when the platform moves forward and when under sufficient tension to urge the platform backwardly in relation to the rocker members, said for- 4 ward actuation means `and said resilient means operatively related to reciprocate the riding platform and provide variable parallelolgram action between the forward and rear posts, riding platform and rocker members.

2. The hobby horse of claim 1 wherein the resilient means is a coil spring and is attached to a cross bar extending between the rear posts; and the forward actuation lever means includes stirrup plates on its forward portion which projects under the riding platform to lodge against the underside of the riding plat-form at a rest position to limit the rearward extent of the variable parallelogram action.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Lang Oct. 3, 1882 Nentwig Aug. 16, 1927 Green Tuly 10, 1951 Plese Oct. 22, 1957 

